Marko Arnautović spent Thursday’s UEFA Conference League fixture on the bench during Red Star Belgrade’s 2:2 draw against FC Copenhagen, with manager Albert Riera declining to offer a specific explanation for not playing the experienced trio, according to LAOLA1.
Albert Riera Defends Selection Choices After Match
The 37-year-old Austrian international was not the only veteran left out of the action by the Spanish coach. Experienced midfielders Mirko Ivanić and Aleksandar Katai also failed to make an appearance off the bench during the European encounter.
Instead of turning to his veteran roster as the match hung in the balance, Riera introduced ÖFB legionnaire Muhammed Cham for Tomás Händel in the 62nd minute. Later in the second half, in the 84th minute, Mohammed Abu Fani and Loizos Loizou replaced Vasilije Kostov and Vladimir Lucić respectively.
Manager Dismisses Post-Match Inquiries
Pressed by reporters on a post-match press conference regarding his handling of the veteran trio, Riera offered no tactical justification for keeping Arnautović on the sidelines. As quoted by TV Arena Sport stated he preferred not to discuss players who did not feature.
“I would not like to speak about players who did not play,” Riera said. “I am very positive and look optimistically to the coming tasks. You will not change my opinion.”
“Only losers deal with what could have been if something had gone differently. I believe in what I do.”
Tension on the Pitch During the Stalemate
Arnautović still managed to draw attention during the contest itself through a visible exchange with his technical staff. According to reports from the Serbian portal Direktno, the striker did not join his teammates in celebrating Timi Max Elšnik’s equalizer that brought the score to 1:1.
Instead of participating in the team huddle, the forward walked over to speak directly with Riera, appearing to explain a situation to his coach. The exact subject of their animated discussion on the touchline remains undisclosed as Red Star prepares for its next fixture.
Keep reading
